Ashlyn Bolt, 22, a Seal Beach resident who works as a hairstylist just blocks away from Salon Meritage, leaves a bouquet in front of the salon. During lunchtime Thursday, many people who work nearby came to the scene of Wednesday's mass shooting. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Livia Chiurazzi, an employee of the Criswell Signature Salon, just a few doors down from Salon Meritage, hugs a friend at the shooting scene. Chiurazzi was at work Wednesday and witnessed seeing a man sitting in a Land Rover in the parking lot get shot. On Thursday, Chiurazzi was at work helping her friends and fellow employees grieve. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Booking photo of Scott Dekraai, 42, a former tugboat crewman who served in the military. Dekraai is being held on suspicion of murder and is the sole suspect in the Wednesday afternoon mass shooting that shattered the normally placid community of Seal Beach, known as “Mayberry by the Sea.” COURTESY OF THE SEAL BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT

Meghan Cassedy, left, and Sydney Rockowitz, both students at Los Alamitos High School hang butcher-paper posters with signed condolence messages from classmates on the wall of Salon Meritage Thursday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A grieving couple walk away from Salon Meritage on Thursday morning. Many residents and friends of the salon's owners and employees brought flowers, notes and candles to the salon's front door. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Mark Zerby, of Long Beach, brings a dozens red roses to place at the front door of Salon Meritage the morning after eight people were massacred there by a lone gunman. Zerby, whose 35-year-old son, Douglas Zerby, was shot by Long Beach police last year, says he just wanted to pay his respects and share his grief with the people of Seal Beach. Zerby said he and his son had spent a lot of fun times in Seal Beach and he could relate to what the families of the slain are going through. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Photographs of shooting victim Randy Fannin, the owner of Salon Meritage, documenting a child's first haircut and a fundraising event, were taped to the front entrance to the salon on Thursday afternoon. The inscription reads, "Randy 1987 - My daughter's first haircut. "2008 - Donate to locks of love. Rest in Peace, knew you forever. ... forever wasn't long enough. Love you, Mary" BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Gary Roderick, 58, of Seal Beach pauses Thursday to pray at the front door of Salon Meritage after placing a Halloween decoration among the flowers and candles. Roderick said he was friends of a victim named Laura who worked at the salon. He had played on a community softball team with her and described her as a well-loved woman. Roderick took his shoes off before walking near the front door. He said he wanted to respect the ground where many of his friends, victims of the shooting, had once walked. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Elaine Metz, of Long Beach, left, hugs friend Mary Stearns outside Salon Meritage on Thursday, the morning after eight people were shot and killed at the salon. Metz said she and Stearns were customers of the Seal Beach salon, where she said Randy cut her hair. She lighted two candles at the door, paused in reflection and hugged a nearby mourner. Metz said she was, "Feeling pretty empty, pretty unsafe." She also said, "I realize that this is just one sick person, but I feel unsafe. It could happen anywhere, but you can't keep second-guessing things." BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Thursday at about noon, a photo was taped to the front entrance of Salon Meritage with the words "RIP Michelle & Kristy - Thoughts and prayers go to all the victims and their families." BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Elaine Metz of Long Beach pauses at the front door of Salon Meritage on Thursday, the morning after eight people were shot and killed at the salon. Metz said she was a former customer of the Seal Beach salon. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Thursday afternoon, Kimberly Criswell, left, and some of her employees and friends talk about the the previous days events in front of their salon, Criswell Signature Salon, just two doors away from Salon Meritage. Criswell was a witness to the shooting that took place outside the salon, when the gunman shot a man waiting in his Land Rover outside the salon. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Community members begin to gather Thursday afternoon at Salon Meritage and share stories about the people they knew who died there Wednesday. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A mourner brought sidewalk chalk and wrote the message, "I will always love U RF. .. CC." Randy Fannin owned the Salon Meritage and was killed Wednesday in the massacre that took eight lives. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Kimberly Criswell, owner of Criswell Signature Salon, two doors down from Salon Meritage in Seal Beach, prays with employees, family and friends before city officials make a statement to reporters during a news conference at the Seal Beach Pier on Thursday. A gunman believed to be involved in a long-running and bitter custody dispute with one of the stylists opened fire Wednesday at Salon Meritage in Seal Beach, killing eight. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Flowers and messages of support continue to gather at a memorial outside Salon Meritage Thursday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A silver cross is left at the end of the driveway of the home owned by Scott Dekraai in Huntington Beach on Thursday morning. Dekraai, 41, a former tugboat crewman who served in the military, is being held on suspicion of murder and is the sole suspect in the afternoon mass killing at a salon in Seal Beach. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Mark Rivera talks to reporters about his neighbor Scott Dekraai and his family in Huntington Beach on Thursday morning. Rivera lives across the street. "My heart really goes out to his son," said Rivera, " 'cause he's a really cute little boy. I'm just thinking, I don't know what's going to happen to him from this point forward." KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A silver cross is left at the end of the driveway of the home owned by Scott Dekraai in Huntington Beach, Thursday morning. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Her boyfriend Chris Winters, right, listens as Stephanie Malchow talks to reporters about her next-door neighbor Scott Dekraai and his family in Huntington Beach on Thursday. "He was always a nice neighbor," said Malchow. "He always went above and beyond being a good neighbor. I can't imagine what the victims families are going through," she adds. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Thursday morning, the windows were covered by blinds at Salon Meritage in Seal Beach, but the lights were on inside. Investigators had completed their work inside. Wednesday afternoon, nine people were gunned down in and outside the salon. Eight died and the ninth victim is in critical condition in a Long Beach hospital. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Thursday morning,s the windows were covered by blinds at Salon Meritage, Seal Beach, but the lights were on inside. Investigators had completed their work inside after a mass shooting Wednesday. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Meghan Cassedy, left, and Sydney Rockowitz, both students at Los Alamitos High School hang butcher-paper posters with signed condolence messages from classmates on the wall of Salon Meritage Thursday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Police stand near the site where eight people were killed and one was wounded in a shooting at a hair salon in Seal Beach on Wednesday. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Scott Evans Dekraai, 41, was taken into custody by police about a half-mile from a business where a lone gunman opened fire, leaving eight people dead and one in critical condition Wednesday afternoon. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A woman reacts emotionally on arriving at the crime scene of a mass slaying in Seal Beach on Wednesday. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Friends and family members gather outside the Seal Beach Public Library after a shooting occurred at a nearby hair salon, resulting it eight deaths Wednesday afternoon. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Friends and family members gather outside the Seal Beach Public Library after a shooting occurred at a nearby hair salon resulting it eight deaths Wednesday afternoon. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Friends console each other near the scene of a mass shooting in Seal Beach on Wednesday. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A black Range Rover with its passenger side window blown out is towed away from Salon Meritage Wednesday night. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A woman reacts emotionally near the scene of a multiple shooting in Seal Beach on Wednesday. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Friends hug near the scene of a mass shooting in Seal Beach on Wednesday. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Scott Evans Dekraai, 41, was taken into custody by police about a half-mile from a business where a gunman opened fire Wednesday afternoon. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Friends and family members gather outside the Seal Beach Public Library after a shooting occurred at a nearby hair salon resulting it eight deaths Wednesday afternoon. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Police search the suspected shooter vehicle at 11th Street and Central Avenue in Seal Beach on Wednesday. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Friends and family members gather outside the Seal Beach Public Library after a mass shooting Wednesday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A woman is comforted near the scene Wednesday. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Friends and family members gather outside the Seal Beach Public Library after a shooting occurred at a nearby hair salon resulting it eight deaths Wednesday afternoon. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Friends and family members gather outside the Seal Beach Public Library after a shooting. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The scene of the multiple homicide in Seal Beach Wednesday. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Two women react emotionally on arriving at the crime scene of a mass killing in Seal Beach on Wednesday. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Friends and family members gather outside the Seal Beach Public Library after a shooting at a nearby hair salon resulting it eight deaths Wednesday afternoon. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Body armor believed to belong to the shooter lies on top of a police car at 11th Street and Central Avenue in Seal Beach. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Orange County coroner'r and police investigators go over the scene at the Salon Meritage in Seal Beach after a mass killing. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Investigators bag the evidence believed to be connected to Wednesday's mass shooting. Among the evidence were casings, magazines and a bullet-proof vest. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Victims' family and friends gathered to console each other at the Mary Wilson Library and Seal Beach Community Center after Orange County's worst mass killing Wednesday in Seal Beach. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Investigators bag the evidence believed to be connected to Wednesday's mass shooting. Among the evidence were casings, magazines and a bullet proof vest. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Victims' family and friends gathered to console each other at the Mary Wilson Library and Seal Beach Community Center after Orange County's worst mass killing Wednesday in Seal Beach. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Orange County coroner's and police investigators go over the scene of a mass killing Wednesday at the Salon Meritage in Seal Beach. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A neighbor walking her dog just before dawn Thursday pauses to view a sidewalk memorial near Salon Meritage. The memorial was created by mourners on 5th Street in Seal Beach Wednesday night when Salon Meritage was still cordoned off with police tape. Wednesday afternoon a man reportedly shot and killed eight people and critical wounded a ninth at the salon. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A city mascot appears to be guarding flowers placed by Seal Beach local Dart Downing after a press conference at the Seal Beach Pier, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011. A gunman believed to be involved in a long-running and bitter custody dispute with one of the stylists opened fire Wednesday at Salon Meritage in Seal Beach, killing eight. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A woman, who identified herself as a friend of the man shot in the parking lot outside Salon Meritage, is surrounded by media in the parking lot Thursday morning. She had come to leave flowers and a candle at the front door and was surrounded as she left. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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SEAL BEACH – The lives lost to the deadliest shooting in Orange County history began to come into focus Thursday, along with the personal strains that dogged the one man suspected of opening fire at a crowded beauty salon.

Scott Evans Dekraai, 41, had post-traumatic stress disorder from a crippling boat accident and was locked in a vicious custody fight with his ex-wife, court records show. Police said he stormed Salon Meritage on Wednesday afternoon with a handgun, and “knew his intended victim.”

His ex-wife, Michelle Fournier, a stylist at the salon, was among those killed. A close friend, Sharyn White, said Fournier had confided in her just two months ago: “Scott says he’s going to come in here and kill us at the salon.”

Salon owner Randy Fannin – “one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to know,” a friend said -- also died in the explosion of gunfire. So did newlywed Laura Webb, and soccer mom Michele Fast. Dave Caouette, an avid off-roader, was shot in the head as he sat in his Land Rover outside the salon.

Police released the identities Thursday afternoon, and friends and family provided the stories: Victoria Buzzo, who walked through life with a “dance of happiness.” Lucia Kondas, at 65 the oldest person killed. Christy Wilson, a wife and mother who attended a custody hearing by Fournier’s side earlier this week, KTLA reported.

A candlelight memorial was planned at 8 p.m. Thursday outside the salon.

Police identified Dekraai as the only suspect in the afternoon massacre that shattered the “Mayberry by the Sea” tranquility of Seal Beach. He was being held without bail on suspicion of murder.

Police have refused to discuss a possible motive for the shooting. But friends and relatives of those killed pointed to an ugly and long-running court fight between Dekraai and Fournier over custody of their young son.

Fournier described Dekraai in court filings as physically abusive and said he displayed the manic mood swings of bipolar disorder. She told her friend, White, that Dekraai had held a gun on her once, years ago, and had more recently threatened to come to the salon and shoot her. There is no indication in the court files that she sought a restraining order.

Dekraai also suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome, a psychiatrist wrote in court filings. He was working on a tugboat in 2007 when an out-of-control cable crushed a co-worker, then raced across the deck and whipped across his leg, nearly severing it, according to court records and accounts of the accident.

Police reported finding multiple weapons of unknown type and caliber in Dekraai’s truck when they stopped him minutes after the shooting and blocks away from the salon. He was arrested without incident.

The shooting happened shortly before 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, when every chair at Salon Meritage was occupied, police said. A witness who was inside the salon, and who gave her name only as Cindy, said the gunman fired at a female hairstylist first, then turned the gun on a woman who was getting her hair shampooed, and then shot Fannin, the owner.

She didn’t remember the gunman saying anything.

A small memorial of flowers, candles and handwritten notes had replaced the yellow police tape outside the salon by Thursday afternoon. One note said: “Dedicated to all who lost and to a most precious Seal Beach that didn’t deserve this carnage.”

Kristin Butler, 35, left a plant outside Fannin’s home in Murrietta on Thursday. She said her mother had a 4 p.m. appointment at Salon Meritage on Wedneday.

“God was watching after my mom,” Butler said, “but I wish God would have watched over everyone else who was there.”

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